Liberal Studies

Welcome to Liberal Studies

Emphasis in Education Program Description

The Liberal Studies: Emphasis in Education Degree prepares students to transfer to
a Liberal Studies — Teacher Education bachelor’s degree program. The degree is intended
to provide students with options to select appropriate coursework to meet lower-division
requirements of the Liberal Studies program of the four-year institution they are
planning to attend. Articulation agreements for most Liberal Studies—Teacher Education
programs offered at the University of California and the California State University
systems are available on the ASSIST website at www.assist.org.

Liberal Studies — Teaching Education programs are different at each four-year institution.
Therefore, students must select their courses for the Associate Degree in consultation
with an SBCC academic counselor to ensure they satisfy the lower-division preparation
for the Liberal Studies program of the four-year institution to which they are planning
to transfer.

The Liberal Studies: Emphasis in Education Degree at Santa Barbara City College is
an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a foundation of knowledge
in the areas of English composition, critical thinking, oral communication, physical
and life sciences, arts and humanities, and social sciences. Through this program,
students acquire a breadth of knowledge across multiple disciplines, explore how knowledge
across disciplines can be connected, analyze and evaluate ideas using the tools of
critical thinking, and demonstrate effective communication skills in reading, writing,
listening and speaking. Since Liberal Studies is a “college-wide” interdisciplinary
Associate Degree program, it does not have departmental affiliation. Inquiries regarding
the Liberal Studies program should be directed to an academic counselor or the Dean,
Educational Programs — Student Development and Counseling.

The college also offers an AA-T Degree in Elementary Teacher Education for Transfer.
This degree also provides the foundational knowledge to students who want to earn
a Baccalaureate Degree in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
to prepare them for elementary school teaching (K-6). This degree is in compliance
with the Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act {Senate Bill 1440, now codified in
California Education Code Sections 66746-66749} and guarantees admission to a California State University (CSU)
campus for any community college student who completes an “associate degree for transfer,”
a newly established variation of the associate degrees traditionally offered at a
California community college. Upon completion of the transfer associate degree, the
student is eligible for transfer with junior standing into the California State University
(CSU) system. Students will be given priority consideration when applying to a particular
program that is similar to the student’s community college area of emphasis. For more
information on transfer degrees, visit www.sb1440.org.